Review: Collapsible Silicon Lunch Boxes in India

Collapsible Silicon lunch boxes arrived in India very late, but they are finally here – and now, they are everywhere actually! I am always on the lookout for ways to deal with the bulging school bags and was very excited about these. I ordered two of these lunch boxes and gave them a thorough test. Here are the results and my review of the collapsible lunch boxes available in India.

Brand

The original collapsible boxes from Smart Planet are priced exhorbitantly for sale in India (due to the import fees no doubt) but recently, similar boxes have flooded the market. They are available online, through Whatsapp shopping groups and even leading brands like Chumbak are customizing them to come up with their own creative versions. The ones I ordered are branded ‘AquaPolo’.

They came in neat, slim packages.

Slim

They look pretty and slim and are exactly the size I was looking for. My kids prefer to carry just one single backpack to school, so I have made it a point to use slim lunch boxes that do not add extra bulge to their already blown up school bags. The unique thing about these lunch boxes is that they can be collapsed after use, just like the collapsible travel cups that were seen everywhere a short while ago.

Spacious

The boxes are extremely roomy – a little too roomy if you ask me. They might not look so at first glance, but when expanded, they can easily carry lunch for an adult (maybe more).

The boxes are so spacious that you can even use them in their collapsed form to pack a meal for a kid. It will hold a decent amount of roti/rice etc.

Collapsing Feature

You will see how spacious these boxes can become in the picture below. The blue box is collapsed and the pink one is expanded.

A marked difference can be seen in this next picture. The box expands to become a very well sized lunch box. The box is divided into 3 compartments and you will need to expand all 3 together or the box will tilt. It can easily carry lunch + a snack. I like to pack roti+subzi for the longer lunch break and a snack (usually whatever breakfast I make – upma, poha etc.) for the short break.

The ‘Spork’

A very good feature in this box is the ‘Spork’ – a spoon and a fork in one. The Spork has it’s own case which fastens to the inside of the lid. This way, the spork stands fewer chances of getting lost and also does not end up muddled up in food.

Testing with Indian Lunch

Most imported goodies are rendered useless because they are not made with the daily Indian lifestyle in mind. I wanted to be sure they can work with our daily requirements so I tested them with Indian food.

As you can see, the 3 compartments are perfect for carrying food. However, like I mentioned earlier, the box is too spacious for a kid’s meal. The larger compartment which is typically going to carry ‘rotis’ is mostly left unused. This also creates an imbalance in the lunch where the left side is lighter and the right side is heavier, causing the lighter side to collapse on its own. Remember, this is silicon and not plastic. You cannot expect it to stand on it’s own with an uneven load.

This would not happen if you added more weight to the left side. For e.g. if you add a fruit like a banana in a banana protector case or a small carton of fruit drink, this will not happen. This product works for non-Indians whose lunch mostly consists of a filling sandwich and accompaniments such as fruit etc.

The Indian Curry Test Part 1 – Testing Leaks and Spills

The biggest challenge of all – the Indian curry. Although I do not plan to pack gravies for school lunch, I wanted to see how they fared. I have had disastrous cases of oil from the vegetables leak inside the bag and spoil the books!

Here, I have filled up one compartment with a thick ‘daal’, added a fried ‘subzi’ to the other and propped up the lunch box in a vertical upright position (exactly how it will be when carried in the school bag) for a couple of hours.

I am surprised! The lid seals fairly well! The lunch box actually passes the first curry test. The daal did not leak out of the compartment. At least, it works now. I am not sure if the grip will loosen eventually. If I notice any further issues in everyday use, I will update this section.

The Indian Curry Test Part 2 – Cleaning Up

The other nightmare when using products with Indian food is the yellow stains from our turmeric infused gravies and oil.

Again, this was a pleasant surprise but the box cleaned fairly easily. Now, I haven’t had the heart to microwave a cooked vegetable in the lunch box and results might vary. But everyday cleaning should pose no problem.

Summing Up the Goods and the Not-so-Goods

What I Loved About the Collapsible Silicon Lunch Boxes:

1. BPA Free (Read more about it here and ALWAYS choose BPA free products only)
2. Made of Food Grade Silicon – It is soft, odourless, unbreakable, heat resistant, suitable for the microwave and is dishwasher safe (all except the lid)
3. Brilliant design idea – The box can be collapsed after the child is done eating and will require less space to store in the bag.
4. Also great for picnics and home use. Uses up lesser storage space when not in use.
5. The lid seals the food perfectly.
6. The Spoon+Fork is a great idea and sits neatly it’s own compartment without touching the food.

What I Did Not Like

There is just one thing really. The box is too large to fill and collapses/tilts on its own when not filled to it’s full capacity. Major flaw because most Indian meals would fare the same way. Idlis would be lighter than the sambar. Rotis will be lighter than subzi. I will have to find a way to make the larger compartment not collapse by adding more weight to it.

Finally…

How the rubber lining and plastic handles hold on after continued use is yet to be seen. If anything happens to affect my current review, I will update this page with additional information. As of now, I am loving these boxes but not doing away with any of the other boxes too.